Occupational Therapist

Our client is an established specialist organisation supporting children, young people and families living with blindness or low vision. This is a statewide multidisciplinary service, with clinicians working across OT, Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, Orthoptics and other specialist areas. The team uses a family-centred, coaching-based approach focused on meaningful occupation, participation, independence and helping children and young people become more life ready. You will be part of the broader Wollongong team while also having strong connection to the statewide CYP network.

This is a full-time, fixed-term parental leave cover position through to July 2027, supporting children and young people aged approximately 0 -19 years particularly with low vision or blindness across Wollongong, Illawarra, Southern Highlands and the South Coast. The role is primarily community based, with services delivered across:

• Family homes, schools, clinic and community environments
• Telepractice, with an established structure for online service delivery
• Children and young people with a broad range of diagnoses and presentations where vision impairment is the core clinical specialty
• NDIS-funded services and goals
• Meaningful occupation, participation, independence and preparation for adulthood
• Family coaching rather than a traditional clinician‑led paediatric therapy model

You will work closely with parents, carers, schools and other professionals, adapting your approach to each child's age, level of vision, diagnosis, functional impact and goals. The Wollongong position is the local paediatric OT role, so confidence working independently is important. You will not, however, be clinically isolated, with access to the statewide team, discipline-specific OT support and senior practitioners. Fleet vehicles are available, with independent travel expected as part of the community-based model.

This is an opportunity to develop specialist expertise in paediatric vision OT within a highly supported clinical environment, with the security of a defined fixed-term position through to July 2027. You will have access to:

• Strong clinical governance across clinical, operational and discipline-specific supervision
• Regular supervision with the hiring manager, senior practitioners and other OTs
• Group supervision and connection with the broader statewide team
• Significant induction and structured training during your first weeks
• Opportunities to shadow orthoptists and develop a practical understanding of vision assessment and functional vision
• A six-week initial period focused on induction and learning rather than a specific client target
• An established telepractice model alongside community, home, school and clinic-based work
• An ideal settled caseload of approximately 2 to 3 clients per day after onboarding period
• A transdisciplinary environment with access to other disciplines when client needs sit outside the OT scope
• The opportunity to work within a framework to support children and young people to build skills for greater independence and participation throughout life

Tertiary qualification in Occupational Therapy, current AHPRA registration, experience working with children and young people in a family-centred context, experience or familiarity working within the NDIS, current Working with Children Check, and a genuine interest in developing specialist knowledge in vision impairment and paediatric OT are required.

Salary equivalent to $106,983 + super + salary packaging options up to $15,900 per annum. Comprehensive induction and vision-specific training, regular clinical, operational, discipline-specific and group supervision, senior practitioner support and statewide OT connection, fleet vehicles available for community-based work, flexible mix of home, school, clinic, community and telepractice service delivery, professional development and ongoing clinical learning opportunities are offered.

If you are looking for a paediatric OT role where you can build genuine expertise in a specialist area while having strong clinical support around you, this might be a great fit. You will be joining a growing statewide team where curiosity and willingness to learn are valued. The role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children and young people's independence, participation and preparation for adult life.